Girish Juneja takes a critic of the EU plans to phase out the traditional light bulb to a new exhibition celebrating the low energy alternatives.
It is not often that EU directives inspire cutting edge art shows, but today 23 designers from 13 European countries are taking part in a display to mark the phasing out of low efficiency light bulbs.
To coincide with Gypsy Roma Traveller history month, here we present a gallery of work by photographer and writer Zsuzsanna Ardó which documents her recent time in a Roma community in Harghita County in Transylvania, Romania. Ardó has photographed Roma communities in Hungary, Romania, Italy and the UK, and her exhibition about the Roma in Hungary has been shown at several galleries in India and the UK.
A wonderful opening of 2009 - Hungary 100 years ago through the eyes of Adrian and Marianne Stokes
The unique exhibition was opened by István Hiller, Minister of Education and Culture of Hungary 12 January 2009.
Magdalen Evans, Borbála Czakó, Ildikó Takács, István Hiller at the opening
At the private view Ildikó Takács, the Director of the Hungarian Cultural Centre welcomed the distinguished guests with these words:
"Last year when Magdalen approached me with the idea of this exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the publication of her great-great uncle and aunt’s book, I immediately fell in love with the story. It is a very fine example of how personal stories can build bridges between two nations."
The Stokes made extensive tours round Eastern Europe before the outbreak of World War I. As a result of their journeys a travel book by Adrian Stokes, titled Hungary, was published in 1909. The book contained beautiful pictures painted by Adrian and Marianne Stokes. A selection of these pictures are presented at the Hungarian Cultural Centre in January 2009.
2009 is a very special year to the HCC for many reasons: we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the political transition in Hungary, the Hungarian Cultural Centre opened its doors in London in November 1999, and it has been 5 years since our country joined the EU.
Marianne and Adrian Stokes did something extraordinary 100 years ago, despite the cultural differences they understood and captured the spirit of Hungary and they managed to bring Hungary closer to British people.
We would be delighted if the Hungarian Cultural Centre could contribute to the promotion of Hungary as deeply as Adrian and Marianne Stokes did 100 years ago.
